Designed for children ages 8 and up, The DK Merriam-Webster Children 's Dictionary combines vibrant pictures from the Dorling Kindersley archive with authoritative text from Merriam-Webster. But this is no mere dictionary with illustrations. The thinking behind the selection of each individual picture has been as exacting as it has been for the choice of words. If we had added images only for their decorative value, this book would not sen e as much more than a dictionary with pretty pictures. Instead, the choosing of images has been directed by their accuracy, usefulness, and potential for bringing unfamiliar subjects to life, and by their capacity to expand a word definition, illuminate the obscure, or cast light on those areas where the possibilities of verbal description are stretched to the limit. Special features have also been created to provide a wide range of themes with additional information: labels placed around images pinpoint individual features and expand the reader's vocabulary; diagrams, models, and cross sections enhance understanding and add detail to a host of topics; and collections of images establish the range of objects within a single theme.